Hand tape gummer



June 23, 1936.. M. L. FLOOD HAND TAPE GUMMER Filed March 24, 1931 INVENTOR MALCOLM L. FLOOD Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES 2,044,840 HAND TAPE GUMMER Malcolm L. Flood, Oceanside, N. Y., assignor to International Communications Laboratories, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 24,

13 Claims.

This invention relates to gumming devices and more particularly to hand tape gummers.

In modern telegraph practice, messages are printed upon paper tape and the'tape afiixed to blank forms for delivery to the addressee.

The present practice is to use pre-gummed tape which is run through the recording machine, moistened and affixed to the message blank. This method is open to several serious disadvantages, as, pre-gummed tape is expen-' sive, is affected by heat and humidity, and sticks to the platen and other parts of the recording device.

I Although these and other disadvantages of pre-gummed tape have'lo-ng been recognized, up to now it has not been practical to use plain tape because a hand tape gummer which will be neat in operation and not subject to clogging and .drying, has not been developed prior to my invention. 1

It is an object of my invention. to provide a hand tape gummer which shall be simple in construction and operation.

Another object is to provide a gumming device having a feed valvewhich shall have an automatic, positive and clean cut-off.

Still another object is to provide a leak-proof hand tape 'gummer reservoir having a pressure actuated air vent.

A further object of my invention is to provide a gummer having a tape guide and a glue spreader of novel construction and arrangement.

A still further object is to provide a gumming device, theseveral parts of which are readily dis-assembled for cleaning and otherwise servicing.

Other objects and advanages of my invention will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing; wherein Fig.1 is a side view of the gumming device embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a detail view of the valve head, Fig. 3 is an enlarged View of the tape roller guide, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged section through the valve head showing the bevelled slot therein.

Referring now to the drawing,a hollow cylindrical handle I having a nozzle 2 and nozzle cap 3 is a reservoir for glue. Air vent 4 is opened by lever 5 when the handle I is grasped, allowing a sufiicient amount of air to enter the container while the glue is being consumed. Two tubular supports 6 and I, connected to container I and valve head 8, allow the glue to be transferred from the container to the valve head 8, as required. The uppermost portion 9 of, valve 1931, Serial No. 524,931

head 8 is curved and has a slot I0 with its left side bevelled in such a way that, when the tape isdrawn over the head 9, an adequate serving of glue will be supplied to the under side of the tape. While the tape is being drawn over the valve head 8, there is a capillary attraction effeet, the glue being drawn through the slot It! and carried away on the tape. Passing through the valve head 8 and below and parallel with slot II] is a rocker arm shaft II on which rocker arm I2 rotates. Rocker arm I2 contains two removable springs I3 and I4 and valve plate I5. The valve plate I5 is curved in such a manner as to coincide with the curved portions of the valve head section 9 through its arc of action. The upper portion of the valve plate I 5 is ground in such a way as to provide a suitable knife-edge I6-II on each side of the valve plate. Purposes of the knife-edge are as follows:

1. It serves to keep the valve head in the immediate vicinity of the slot from accumulating hardened glue, so that the valve plate will a1- ways feed glue over the valve head.

2. It serves to prevent the glue applied to the tape from being scraped off as the gummed tape passes over the valve plate.

3. It efiectively cuts ofi the supply of glue, leaving the surface free from glue when the valve has returned to its normal position and the tape removed.

Springs I3 and I4 are used to exert a tension on valve plate I5 at all times to ensure positive contact with valve head 8. Attached to the upper portion of rocker arm I2 is loop I8, on which is a rotatably mounted spreading roller I9. Spreading roller I9 is made to have a slightly greater diameter at the central portion than at the ends in order that the glue on the tape passing over it may be efiectively spread throughout the entire width of the tape. Roller I9 is also flanged to prevent any glue from escaping over the ends of the roller and causing the roller to stick to loop l8.

Back stop 20 is fixed on container I and serves to keep the rocker arm or assembly I I, I2, I3, I4, I5, and I9 in its normal position due to tension of spring 2 I, which is hooked on rocker arm I2 and on eye 22. Tape guides 23 and 24 guide the tape over the valve head 8 and pin 25, under which the tape passes as it leaves the valve head 8 and limits the height of the tape relative to the slot III in valve head 8. Pin 26, under which the tape passes when ready for adhesion to the blank, serves to form a suitable angle of the tape to rotate assembly ll, l2, l3, I4, [5, and I9 as the tape is being drawn. 7

Tape tension lever 21, adjustable by a coil spring not shown, places the required tension on the tape to regulate the amount of glue supplied to the tape as it passes through the gummer, and to cause a suflicient drag on the tape to permit full rotation of :the rocker arm assembly before the tape is actually caused to move over the valve head.

Tape is threaded through tape guide 24 under tension of lever 21 over valve plate I5, :under pin 25, over roller I9 and under pin 26. Container 1 is held with the back portion tilted up and the tape then pulled through the left side of the gummer. As the tape is being pulled through and before it starts to move, the rocker arm assembly H, [2, I3, l4, l5 and-l8 is caused to rotate about the valve head 8 a suflicient distance to open the valve, allowing the glue to come in contact with the tape. A little more force exerted on the tape causes the tape to move :over the slotted valve head portion 9, carrying with it the serving .of glue in the central portion of the :tape.

When the tape containing the glue passes .over the tapered roller 19, more pressure is exerted on the central portion of the tape than on theedges, and some of the glue will be spread to the edges of the :tape from the center so that by the time the .tape is passed over the roller :19, the glue has been spread throughout its .entire width. When the force exerted ceases, the rocker arm assembly automatically returns to its normal position under tension .of spring 2:! and the gummer is then very nearly hermetically sealed and the .glue kept in its natural fluid condition for further use. As no more glue leaves the gummer than is picked up by the tape, there will be no surplus glue to escape and drip.

The rocker arm assembly is readily detachable for cleaning .or servicing of the-several parts. It is merely necessary to unhook the spring irom the pin and disengage the rocker .arm from its axis.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for applying liquid glue to a=tape, a reservoir for the glue, a valve head having a slot connected -to said reservoir, .a spring tensioned knife-edged valve plate in co-operative association with said valve head, tape guides including a pivotally mounted glue spreader, and connecting means between said spreader and said valve plate for opening said valve slot upon movement .of said glue spreader about its pivot.

2. A tape gummer comprising a valve "head having arounded section, a slot in said section, a source of glue supply, a feed from said source for said slot including said valve head, a knifeeedged spring tensioned valve plate pivotally mounted on said valve head, said valve plate being curved in such a manner as to coincide with said rounded section 10f said valve "head through its are of action a glue spreader pivotally mounted on said valve plate, and means connecting said spreader and said plate for simultaneous movement.

3. A device of the character described comprising, a valve head having a rounded section, a slot in said section, a shaft passing through said valve head below and parallel with said slot, a pair of rocker arms mounted on said shaft, a stop arm, a val-ye plate normally closing said slot mounted between said arms for movement thereby, means including said rocker arms and said valve plate for opening said slot and means for moving said said rigid guide.

5. A device for applying liquid to a tape comprising a hollow body portion forming a reservoir for the liquid and shaped to serve as a handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming .a conduit for the liquid and having a discharge aperture disposed on the top and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the said nozzle, two spaced tape guide pins extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of and in fixed relation to said nozzle, said aperture being disposed between said pins and said reservoir, a tape guide roller pivotally mounted .on said nozzle, said roller being disposed above and in parallel relation to said guide pins.

6. A device according to claim 5 characterized by .the provision of means connected to and operated by said pivotally mounted guide roller and co-acting with said discharge aperture for closing it to :prevent .escape .of glue therefrom when the device is not in use.

7. Adevice for applying glue to a tape comprising :a hollow body portion forming a reservoir for the glue and shaped to serve as a handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit and having a discharge aperture on the top thereof, means for directing the tape transversely across said discharge opening, a pivotally mounted valve for closing said aperture to prevent escape of glue therefrom when not in use, and a roller pivotally mounted to move with said valve and over which the tape is directed after application of the glue thereto and so shaped as to spread the glue evenly thereon.

8. A device for applying liquid to a tape comprising a hollow body portion forming a reservoir for the liquid and shaped to serve as a handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit and having a discharge aperture disposed on the top and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, guide means for directing the tape longitudinally along the top of said tubular nozzle and transversely across said aperture.

9. A device for applying liquid to a tape comprising a hollow body portion forming a reservoir for the liquid and shaped to serve as a handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit and having a discharge aperture disposed on the top and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, and guide means for directing the tape from beneath said reservoir and longitudinally along the top of said tubular nozzle and transversely across said aperture.

10. A device for applying liquid glue to a tape comprising a hollow body portion forming a reservoir for the glue and shaped to serve as a handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit and having a discharge aperture disposed on the top and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, guide means for directing the tape longitudinally along the top of said tubular nozzle and transversely across said aperture, and means co-acting with said aperture to prevent escape of the glue therefrom when not in use.

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11. A device for applying liquid glue to a tape comprising a hollow body portion forming a reservoir for the glue and shaped to serve as a handle, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit and having a discharge aperture disposed on the top and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, and guide means for directing the tape from beneath said reservoir and longitudinally along the top of said tubular nozzle and transversely across said aperture, and means co-acting with said aperture to prevent escape of the glue therefrom when not in use.

12. A device for applying liquid glue to a tape comprising a hollow body portion forming a reservoir for the glue and shaped to serve as a handie, a tubular nozzle leading from the reservoir forming a conduit and having a discharge aperture disposed on the top and transverse to the longitudinal axis of said nozzle, guide means for directing the tape longitudinally along the top of said tubular nozzle and transversely across said aperture, said guide means including a roller over which the tape is directed after application of the glue thereto, the diameter of the roller at its central portion being greater than at its ends so as to spread the glue evenly across the tape.

13. A device for applying liquid glue to a tape comprising a valve head having a rounded section, a slot in said section for passage of the liquid glue, a shaft fastened through said valve head below and parallel with said slot, a pair of rocker arms mounted on said shaft, a back stop for said arms, a valve plate mounted between said rocker arms for movement thereby, resilient means carried by said rocker arms for causing said valve plate to hold the tape in contact relation with said rounded valve head section, a loop mounted on said rocker arms, a rotatably mounted glue spreading roller supported by said loop, means including said valve plate for holding the tape down over said slot when in use, and spring means for causing said valve plate to close said slot when not in use with said arms at rest against said back stop.

MALCOLM L. FLOOD. 

